Display and dispensing device for ribbons and the like



Feb. 25, 1.936. E. F. WELCH 9 DISPLAY AND DISPENSING DEVICE FOR RIBBONS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 25, 1955 0/ I EU 2U 2U 3nventor EDGAR EWELGH I BE E L VM Cittorneg s Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY AND DISPENSING DEVICE FOR RIBBONS AND THE LIKE 4 Claims.

I'his invention relates to devices for displaying and dispensing ribbons and other similar articles of merchandise that are produced and sold in long strips and are and may be wound in bolts or rolls. It is quite desirable that such merchandisc shall be displayed to customers as they walk through the aisles of a store and that they may be examined by an intending purchaser without the necessity of opening boxes or pulling out drawers by the salesperson thereby wastefully consuming the time and energy of bothpart'ies'.

The object of my invention, generally, therefore is to provide an improved displaying and dispensing device in which the intending purchaser can make .a selection of the article desired without, at first, consulting the salesperson and even while the latter is serving another customer and then such intending purchaser quickly supplied by the salesperson when the latter has been released from the preceding customer. Other special objects will appear from the disclosure herein.

The invention is embodied in a device such as hereinshown and described by means of which ribbons or the like are displayed in a suitable group of varying colors and if desired in various widths as well as colors at the aisle side of a store counter and when a selection has been made the length desired quickly withdrawn from the device, measured and cut off behind the counter.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating a structure according to the invention- Figure 1 is a view in end elevation.

Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts broken out and one ribbon roll removed.

Fig. 3 is a detail in section showing two spool holders with one spool in section in one of the holders.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing some of the tension devices for restraining the loose ends of the ribbon.

} Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the tension device on a larger scale.

Fig. 6 is a detail in section on a larger scale of the construction .of the anti-friction rollers on the cross bars for supporting the ribbon.

In the views 9 designates the store counter. The character l0 designates the base of the device which is preferably wood and of rectangular form. To each of the opposite ends of the base is secured avertical frame member I I, ll of metal of bar form bent from the top of the rear as a double incline. These frame members are of substantially identical form and size and are secured together in parallel relation to each other by three bars l2, l3, and 14. The bars l2 and I4 are each provided with a series of short tubes constituting anti-friction rollers I5 interposed between adjacent ends of which, as shown, are perforated disks l6 of larger diameter than the rollers said disks constituting spacers or heads to separate and guide the ribbons passed over the rollers and the plain bar l3.

The character I! designates one of the rolls of ribbon. Each of these rolls has a center hub or spool l8 that at its opposite ends frictionally'but rotarily engages projections of holders I9. Said holders [9 are of springsheet metal secured to the base II! by screws so that the ribbon can be rmwound from the roll by draft on the free end.

At the selling or rear side of the base It] there 1 is provided a tension device 20 for the free end of each ribbon between which tension device and the base the ribbon emerges from the display device, a small protruding end portion of the ribbon being left each time a piece is severed to permit taking with the fingers of the hand for a fresh pull. Said tension device includes a pad of felt or rubber held in a metal clamp of suitable weight and each tension device is individual to a roll of the ribbon. The device 20 is loosely supported between vertical pins 2|] so that it can be lifted out.

In supplying the display device with a set of rolls of ribbon the loose end of each roll is passed, as shown, by full and broken lines, up over a roller on bar 12, and over plain bar 13, over a roller on bar 14 and finally under the tension device 20. If by reason of sales the ribbon of any individual roll or bolt becomes exhausted it can be easily and quickly replaced with a fresh one by the salesperson.

To protect the rolls of ribbon from falling dust and also to provide a surface over and above which the ribbons travel and are exposed for examination at the aisle side of the counter there is provided a hood 25 of sheet metal extending over the top and front of the display device from the end frame to end frame, said cover being attached by spring clips 25 adapted to removably engage said end frames. I intend that the outer surface of said hood 25 should be painted white so as to aid the customer in judging the texture and by contrast with it the color or shade of the ribbon desired. Because the ribbons are somewhat spaced from the cover 25 at its front, takclaimed. The term roll used in the claims includes bolt, so called.

7 What I claim is:

1. A displaying and dispensing device for a roll of ribbon-like material including a frame'having a front side for displaying the ribbon-like material, a rear side opposite said displaying side, and

from which rear side the ribbon-like material is dispensed, and a base betweensaid' sides, means on said base for rotatably supporting a roll of ribbon-like material, guiding means in said frame ribbon-like material upward at therear side of 7 said frame and thence downward across the dis-V finally to the playing side of saidframe and dispensing side of said frame.

2. A displaying and dispensing device for .a

roll of ribbon-like material including a frame having a front side for displaying the ribbon-like for directing the free end portion of said rollof H ribbon-like material, and a rear side opposite V 7 said displaying side from which rear side the ribbon-like material is dispensed, means within said frame for rotatably supporting rolls of ribbon-like material, and means .within said frame for guiding the free end portions of said rolls of material from the rear side of" said frame across the displayside of said frame andthence to the dispensing side of saidframe, and'a cover member for the display side of said frame having its exterior side of white color over which said ribbons are drawn. 7 l V '4. A displaying .and dispensing device for a roll of 'ribbon-likematerial including, a frame having a front side for displaying the ribbon-like material andfai rear side opposite said displaying sidefrom which .rear side the ribbon-like material is dispensed, means within said frame for, rotatably supporting a roll of said material, and

meanswithin said frame for guiding the free end portion of said. roll 'of material from the rear side of said frame acrossthedisplay side of said frame and thence to the dispensing side of said; frame, said roll supporting means including means tending to'resist the unrolling of said material, and meanslocated near therear'sid of the device tending to restrain the withdrawal of the ribbon-like material at said side, whereby said materialis normally left in a stretched condition at the display side of the device.

a r V EDGAR F. wELcH. 

